Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 12/14/2018

Friday, December 14, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Atlanta Hawks travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Friday, December 14, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 13 point favorites.

The Hawks have a record of 6-21. They are 5th in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -10.2 as they average 107.9 points per game while giving up 118.0 per contest. The Celtics have an overall mark of 17-10. They currently are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They total 111.1 points per contest and give up 103.6, which is a point differential of 7.5.

Valuable Atlanta Hawks Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks are 11-16-0 against the spread

The Atlanta Hawks are 15-12-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 14-13-0 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 15-12-0 against the over/under

Key Atlanta Hawks Injuries

12/12/18 SF Alex Poythress Ankle is out indefinitely
12/12/18 PG Jeremy Lin Back is questionable Friday vs Boston
12/12/18 F Omari Spellman Hip is questionable Friday vs Boston
12/04/18 SF Taurean Prince Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/13/18 F Al Horford Knee is downgraded to out Friday vs Atlanta
12/13/18 SF Gordon Hayward Illness is questionable Friday vs Atlanta
12/12/18 G Jaylen Brown Illness is questionable Friday vs Atlanta

Player Spotlight

Kent Bazemore comes into this contest averaging 12.9 points per game while playing 26.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 76%. Trae Young averages 15.7 points per game in 29.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 7.3 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 38% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum averages 16.4 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Kyrie Irving averages 22.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.0 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.6 rebounds per contest and 6.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Atlanta averages 107.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -10.2 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 30th in the league. They average 43.8 rebounds per game and 24.7 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 1st with 17.9 per game. The Hawks allow 118.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 30th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 23rd and 30th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.3 rebounds a game which ranks 28th and they give up 27.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 30th place in the league. They force 16.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 12th in the league with 111.1 points per game this year. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 7.5. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the NBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 46.4 boards per game, and 9th in assists per contest with 25.3. The Celtics are 28th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Celtics surrender 103.6 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 21.8 assists allowed per contest and 16th with 45.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.3 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawks are 28th in the league in defensive rating with 112.1, and their offensive rating of 102.4 is ranked 23rd. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 105.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 25th. As a unit they are 25th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Atlanta is 1st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 5th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 28th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 30th in the NBA. The Celtics are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 103.7, and their offensive rating of 111.3 is ranked 3rd. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 98.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Hawks/Celtics NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Boston -13

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